Questions to Ask a Roofer
Print this. Ask all of them. Watch which ones cause hesitation.
Last updated 2026-09-16
You are about to spend five figures with someone you met last week, in a trade with no state licensing and a well-earned reputation. These are the questions worth asking, and more importantly, what a bad answer sounds like.
About the company
1. Are you licensed?
The trap question. Texas does not license roofing contractors. There is no state roofing license. A roofer who answers "yes, fully licensed in Texas" is either confused about their own trade or counting on you not knowing. The honest answer is that there is no state license, and here is the insurance instead.
2. Can I get your insurance certificate from your carrier directly?
Not a PDF they email you. Sent from the insurance agent. General liability and workers' compensation. Without workers' compensation, an injury on your roof can become your exposure.
3. How long have you been operating under this name?
Companies that dissolve and reappear after a wave of warranty claims are a real pattern.
4. Will you pull the permit under your name?
The only correct answer is yes. A contractor asking you to pull your own permit is asking you to carry the liability for their work. And they need to know which authority yours goes to, which in this metro is genuinely complicated. Six separate cities sit inside Memorial.
About the work
5. How many squares is my roof, and what pitch?
It should be on the quote. Why it matters.
6. Is every piece of metal new?
Step flashing, counter flashing, valley metal, drip edge, pipe boots. Reused flashing is the leading cause of a leak in a new roof, and it is the most common quiet saving in a cheap quote.
7. How many nails per shingle?
Six in the Houston wind zone. If the answer is four, or if they have to check, keep looking.
8. What underlayment, and is there ice and water shield in the valleys?
Synthetic rather than felt, and yes there should be, around every penetration too.
9. What are you doing about ventilation?
A good answer describes intake and exhaust and whether they balance on your attic. A bad answer is "we'll put a ridge vent on". Why.
10. How is decking priced if you find rot?
Per sheet, on the quote, before the job starts. Anything else is a change order conversation you will be having while your roof is open.
About afterwards
11. How many years is the workmanship warranty, in writing?
Ours is ten. Whatever theirs is, it belongs in the contract rather than in conversation. The difference between this and the manufacturer warranty.
12. Are you registering the manufacturer warranty on my job?
13. What does the clean-up include?
Magnet sweep of the drive, lawn and beds. Ask how many times.
The two that should end the conversation
14. Will you handle my insurance claim?
The correct answer is no, because Texas Insurance Code chapter 4102 prohibits a contractor from acting as a public adjuster on a job they will perform. Anyone offering to file, negotiate or argue your policy is describing something they are not allowed to do.
15. Can you cover my deductible?
The correct answer is no. Paying, waiving, rebating or absorbing a homeowner's deductible has been a criminal offense in Texas since House Bill 2102 took effect in September 2019, including advertising it. A yes here tells you everything. Full detail.
One more thing, and it is not a question. Do not sign anything on the first visit. A real price does not expire at the end of the day, and "today only" pricing exists to stop you getting a second quote.
Common Questions
Do roofers need a license in Texas?
No. Texas does not issue a state roofing contractor license. There is no state exam and no board to check. That is exactly why insurance, permits and references matter more here than in states that do license the trade.
What if a roofer pressures me to sign on the day?
Walk away. A genuine price does not expire overnight, and same-day pressure exists to prevent you getting a comparison.
Should I pay a deposit?
A reasonable material deposit is normal. Paying for the whole job up front is not, and a large cash deposit on a first visit is a well-known pattern.
Want this checked on your own roof?
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